Harvard soph golfer Coffman makes state

But the conditions didn't stop Harvard's Jeremy Coffman, a sophomore, who shot a qualifying
14-over-par 86.

"I'm proud of him." said Hornets coach Doug Sijersen. "It was tough out there with the conditions, but he kept grinding all the way to the end."

Sijersen also mentioned that Harvard has a hard time getting students to go out for the team, so Coffman qualifying may boost the team's roster.

"It's not only big for him, but it's big for our program," he said.

Hampshire's Geoff Beck, who shot an 87, will join Coffman this weekend in Normal for the 2A state tournament.

Along with the success, there was also disappointment for Richmond-Burton, which finished second at the Vernon Hills Regional but couldn't keep the conditions from affecting their momentum into the sectional.

"The weather had a bad effect on us," coach Brad Tichenor said. "We had to club up a lot more today. The wind was a huge factor for everyone."

R-B's Jordan Hahn, who won the Vernon Hills Regional with a 4-over-par 76, could muster only an 89. Still, he was at least five strokes ahead of his teammates.

"We've played better," Tichenor said.

Ottawa took first with a score of 340, and Wheaton Academy posted a 348 to take second.

Sterling's Andrew Blackburn won the sectional with a 7-over 79. The 2A state tournament will be Friday and Saturday at Prairie Vista in Bloomington.